Registration of post-operative wound infections: a method for reducing the rate of infections

Continuous registration of postoperative wound infections reduces the rate of infection per se at the same time as enabling special risk groups to be identified. By improving or changing hygiene and antibiotic routines, the rate of infection in these especially exposed groups can be reduced. Major postoperative infectious complications prolong postoperative hospital stay by 17 days on average. Reduction of the rate of infections would save hundreds of treatment days.